TIGERS NEED TO FIND £25K TO BRING CONFIDENCE

\r\n\r\nGloucester City AFC has met to discuss the way forward whilst the Club remains in limbo over the build of a new stadium and their return to play their football in the City.\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nWhilst negotiations with Cheltenham Town are still to be formally finalised, over ground-share arrangements to allow then to continue membership in the Football Conference, the indications are those are moving towards an amicable agreement, which includes clearance of the rent issue highlighted recently.\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\n Having examined all finances of the club in depth, against a backdrop of cash-flow problems due to loss of fixtures due to inclement weather, the club needs to raise around £25,000 to ensure they reach the end of this season in a solvent position. Acquiring this sum will allow the club to plan and financially budget for next season with confidence.\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nConsultant Colin Peake, who set up the meeting with club officials, said:\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\n“Football at any time can be a precarious business and with the background to how the Tigers have to exist, they have done really well but due mainly to the extended delay in being able to return home to the City and a new stadium, it was bound to cause difficulties at some stage. The club has reacted positively by making it publicly known that they have cash-flow issues and require and seek new capital”.\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nPrior to this special meeting, the club has already identified, with the aid of the Supporters Trust, three key areas to concentrate on until planning consent for the new stadium is forthcoming and with it promised long term investment in the club. The three areas were:\r\n\r\n

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Business Leads

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Public Appeal

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Community Connection

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\r\n\r\nPeake goes on to say:\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\n“It is now that the club must go somewhat ‘cap in hand’ to those in the community, whether individuals or businesses, who recognise the football club does carry the name of the City of Gloucester. It is important as recently stated by the Leader of the City Council Paul James, the club has a great heritage and it would be a wonderful occasion when the City can welcome its’ football club back playing at home. Conversely it would be dire if it was lost”\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nThe club is appealing to anyone who would be willing to discuss any financial assistance of whatever size to help them over the initial short-term (2 years) and not only to reach the initial target they have set of £25k but to develop structure for the future across all areas of trading.\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nTo facilitate in this development the club will restructure for next season in an attempt to secure more advice and guidance from the local business community. In addition to a framework of dedicated personnel, already aligned to the club who it can draw on, it will seek to recruit local business people who not only have a love of sport and a love of the City itself but who are able to bring to the table expertise in four specific areas of: Sales & Marketing, Financial, PR & Communications and Legal Advice.\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nChairman of the Tigers, Nigel Hughes explained:\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\n“The Club is a Limited Company and behind the three current directors who have legal responsibility, we have an Executive Committee which is charged to operate the football side on a day to day basis. They have no direct link with the new stadium project so that headache is removed and we see the way to go forward is through an 8 strong Executive from within the club and to supplement and support them with four business people who we hope will offer their services of expertise in the four areas we have outlined.\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nIt is important to emphasise that those four will not take on any onerous form of director checks of the dreaded ‘Fit and Proper Person Test’ as required by the Football Association for directors.\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nWe purely seek four keen and reliable people who feel they have the talent, time and effort to help the club out, through recognition that the club is a component part of our local city community.”\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nHe concluded by saying:\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\n“Sport in its various forms is like a drug, It has its’ ups and downs and this season alone that has been mirrored so graphically on the playing side, with a great effort in the FA Cup and our current excellent league position. While we are appealing for help to raise £25k I need to stress that our playing budget is very small. It has to be with restricted income streams we face due to no ground of our own, ground-sharing costs and especially this season with a glut of postponed games due to the weather. Whilst the latter are of course rearranged they move to midweek games which affect attendances for several reasons and so consequently gate receipts are down against budget.\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nThe sum we need to find is not large by any stretch of the imagination in the wider football picture; but it is something which Gloucester City desperately needs to raise quickly to be able to stabilise all that is happening in and around us at this time. Therefore if you can help, please get in touch”.\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nAnyone interested in discussing positions with the Executive or wishing to financially assist should call either Nigel Hughes on 07595 466447 or Colin Peake on 07763 831070.\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nDirector\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nDirector\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nDirector\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\n(no change proposed from those currently registered)\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nExecutive Committee\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\ncomprising of:\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nChairman\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nVice Chairman\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nSecretary to the Executive\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nTreasurer\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nClub Representative\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nClub Representative\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nSupporters Trust Representative\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nSupporters Trust Representative\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nCo-opted Member – Financial\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nCo-opted Member – PR & Communications\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nCo-opted Member – Sales & Marketing\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nCo-opted Member – Legal Advice\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nExecutive members shall be officially in place from 1st July 2013 until 30th June 2014.\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nEach shall be a permanent appointment until another appointment is made to replace any member leaving for whatsoever reason.\r\n\r\n

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\r\n\r\nNo “meeting by meeting placement” can be made for a permanent member, although the Executive does retain the right to appoint other co-opted members or call in specialist advisors, who will benefit the work of the Executive Committee.\r\n\r\n